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Indulto

"Players Up" blogger Indulto is a retired computer programming residing in SoCal and has been betting Thoroughbreds since the days of Kelso, cashing his first ticket at Saratoga while in college.

Indulto is well known in racing's cyber world as a participant on the Ragozin Sheets message board, the PaceAdvantage Forum, Paulick Report, and has made important contributions to the industry's audience as an HRI Readers Blog contributor.

Indulto was active in the formation of the Horseplayers Association of North America and with former HANA colleagues worked on the Players' Boycott of California racing when takeout rates were increased by the legislature there.

Taking his nickname from the King Ranch color-bearer of the 1960s, Indulto now devotes his time to advocate for the recreational player and hobbyist, but prefers lower takeout rates for all rather than subsidized rebates for the few.

Indulto supports the creation of a centralized racing authority to establish uniform rules for racing and wagering and for those standards to be enforced consistently.

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Thursday, October 04, 2012

Team Cuomo's premature leaking of their preference for privatization provided a precarious preview of the practice of politics applied to problem-solving for New York racing.

All the Governor's horses and all the Governor's men still haven't put the New York Racing Assn. together again. At least, the executive order that officially reorganizes the NYRA and makes the search for a new chief executive possibly has been issued.

Presumably, Team Cuomo’s next encounter with the press will address shorter-term problems and display more of the increased competence and decreased corruption that was promised during their premeditated displacement of their predecessors.

It occurred to me while watching "‘Ahnold's’ "60 Minutes" interview Sunday night that racing seems to turn governors into "Governators." In 2009, Hollywood's imaginary "Terminator" signed a bill increasing takeout on exotic wagers at California tracks.

The bill had been pushed through the legislature by his CHRB Board appointees who literally dismissed prepared statistical testimony by horseplayers and California’s chief executive either preferred casinos to fill the state’s coffers or was looking for Native American PAC money, or both.

In 2012, NYRA's "terminator" sought to assume control, ironically based on the then-existing management's failure to lower takeout when required. Cuomo's image has not descended to the level of his former counterpart, but his remarks here seem more like those of an "aggravator" rather than an "innovator."

'"We're going to be putting a new board in place to basically take control, and then how you do the business of quote-unquote horse racing and what is racing in the future, and how do you really incorporate all the knowledge and potential of the entertainment industry, which is a big component of this, is something we're working through," Cuomo said.

... Cuomo said he was not necessarily pushing for the racetracks to be put in private hands.
"I'm not really a horse racing expert," he said. "I don't know this industry especially well. The point of the exercise of appointing the board is to do the study and the research to answer that question."'

At most venues, privatization might be a valid alternative, but not so Saratoga Racecourse which is itself a museum of racing, a bastion of American tradition, and the source of fond memories that millions of life-long racing enthusiasts have, will take with them to their final resting place after, hopefully, passing their passion to the next generation.

Saratoga also is the centerpiece of a vital community and cultural center that most rational people would protect and preserve for future generations, not to mention an economic engine for that region. The big-picture profit motive, however, is not always compatible with such objectives.

Belmont Park, home of the too-often irrelevant Belmont Stakes, is also a scenic setting that would merit preservation if its sprawling surroundings capable of supporting the capacity crowds (100,000+) of Triple-Crown attempts, could attract them in years where the same horse doesn't win both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

Most telling is that -- even hosting six Breeders' Cup Preps on the sixth best day of racing, nationally -- attracted fewer than 9,000 on-track patrons. Belmont's residential community offers little to entice patrons from getting right back on the parkway.

OTBs, ADWs, alternative forms of gambling, the inconvenience/cost of getting to the track and the emergence of large-screen HDTVs that outperform binoculars have all negatively impacted Belmont attendance. Aqueduct faces the same problems but must also contend with weather/temperature variables.

Now it’s the second-class treatment of horse racing’s customers as compared with those of Genting’s clientele. Is profitability even a possibility while maintaining two physical plants ten miles apart without VLT revenue?

People are getting tired of hearing endless generalities but no specifics as to how racing will be promoted as a downstate entertainment destination. At some point the reality has to set in that the downstate track(s) must embrace the off-track customer to survive.

The NYRA can provide the product necessary to be the most entertaining venue – on-track and off – if it will start catering to recreational rather professional/high-volume bettors.

The new NYRA must take the lead by lowering direct takeout sufficiently that all customers are attracted to compete on a level playing field. It must then publicize who some of the winners are, and how they won. Promote socializing among players and support groups of fans of consistent winners.

The component combinations comprising each exotic IRS signer should be available for on-line viewing, and willing winners interviewed as to what thought processes were involved. Demystify winning and enable others to share and enjoy the experience; even if only vicariously. Some progress has been made in this area but much more is needed.

Create player partnerships that legally enable tax liability to be distributed among partners. Providing this service to NYRA account holders betting on-line would provide a competitive advantage to NYRA and grow customer interest substantially. Providing such a service to on-track patrons meeting for the first time could also augment couples handicapping contests for singles. Handicapping can be great entertainment as an activity done on one's own but even more entertaining as part of a group.

Do something!

On Monday, New York's "Governator" signed the bill giving state appointees "temporary" control of the NYRA board for the next three years as reported in the Times Union'"Because it isn't just reporters who have deadlines, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed the legislation laying out the reorganization of the New York Racing Association, including the creation of a control board that will place NYRA in state hands for the next three years. The bill had to be signed by midnight.

We still don't know who the appointees to the board will be — though those names will be coming "in the near future," according to the governor's news release.

… "New York State's racing industry is a major economic driver in the state, supporting thousands of jobs and attracting tourists from around the world," Governor Cuomo said. "New York taxpayers and the betting public deserve a racing industry that is managed competently and does not neglect the health and safety of the horses.

“The NYRA Reorganization Board will restore public trust, accountability, and transparency to the racing industry in our state, so New York can continue to offer one of the most exciting, enjoyable, safe horse racing experiences in the nation. "'

The piece went on to quote several powerful legislative leaders who will be involved in making appointments to this "Reorganization Board."

The wagons are circling. Is filing one's tax return at the last minute the equivalent of the Governor's eleventh-hour heroics after more than three months had elapsed since the bill was passed?

Procrastination without production has been known to precede prevarication. Team Cuomo's priority should be "restoration" of transparency.

Who is Indulto? Who is the Governator? Who is Maria Shriver? Who is the Maid? Who is the love child? Who is the GIRLIE MAN now?

Indulto says Do Something! and hurray up! As a member of the 4-1/2 fans left of this sport I agree. Well the tortoise did beat the hare and this is an important decision for the future of horseracing. New York is the Capital of the World. Racings future may very well begin or end here. Maybe patience will be a virtue. We 4-1/2 could only hope.

Who is Indulto? “The new NYRA must take the lead by lowering direct takeout sufficiently that all customers are attracted to compete on a level playing field.” As a member of the 4-1/2 fans left of this sport I agree. But can we the horseracing fans/players/customers realistically expect this to happen? Do we need to boycott or strike the races for our voices to be heard? Dare I say boycott this years Breeders Cup? Make it loud and clear, I know it hurts, I love the BC. Girliemen anyone?

Who is Indulto? “Indulto supports the creation of a centralized racing authority to establish uniform rules for racing and wagering and for those standards to be enforced consistently.”
As a member of the 4-1/2 fans left of this sport I agree. A uniform rule about drugging horses should be in place. The health of the most important member of the sport is vital. So the Breeders Cup committee’s ruling is for no Lasix of Juveniles this year and no lasix for any horse in the future. Great news right? So what happens is the majority of owners/trainers continue to run their horses with Lasix? Girliemen anyone?

This weekend the GRI Darley Alcibiades for Juveniles has 13 of 16 racing with Lasix. The GRI Dixiana Breeders Futurity for Juveniles has all 16 entrants running on Lasix. The GRIII Bourbon for Juveniles has all 14 running on Lasix. The GRI Frizette for Juveniles has all 7 entrants running on Lasix. The GRI Champagne for Juveniles has 5 of 7 running on Lasix. WOW!!! That says it all!!! Girliemen anyone?

Who really is Indulto? Who really cares about the future of horseracing? Who is ready to make a difference? Who will give a voice to the horses? Who has the balls? Who will bring us 4-1/2 to the Promised Land? Don’t be girliemen!

The beat goes on…

Blow away, the dreams that tear you apart
Blow away, the dreams that break your heart
Blow away, the lies that leave you nothing but lost and broken hearted

Well the dogs on Main Street howl, cause they understand
If I could take one moment into my hands
Mister I ain’t a boy, no I’m a man
And I believe in a promised land…

Cat,
Thanks for reminding me of Governor Groper’s “Girliemen.” Your passion and energy would surely have been welcome at playersboycott.org in 2010. Indeed, the same rates we fought against then will be in effect for this year’s BC at Santa Anita.

Certainly fresh leadership will be necessary to attract wider player participation for the next boycott warranted by another overwhelmingly obnoxious wrong to right. Horseplayers are hardly “girliemen,” but there seems to be more apathy and cynicism among us than passion for collective action and benefit.

I will be girlcotting “Filly Friday” on general principles to focus energy, attention, and bankroll on now Marathon-less Saturday. Perhaps the reason that they’re keeping the Distaff on Friday rather than the Filly Sprint is that they’re hoping Mott will run Royal Delta back-to-back on both days.

I suspect that targeting the Breeders’ Cup might be a tad ambitious even with such an issue. As far as I can tell, race day use of lasix has offsetting strength among supporters and opponents.

I agree that the breed and the racing product prior to the institution of liberal lasix policies seemed superior. I believe that experimentation to determine whether racing continues on that road needs to be conducted, and that it be done in a phased manner starting with a 2YO crop, but I think it would be more effective of done in more uniform fashion.

In my opinion, any ban should have applied to ALL graded stakes for juveniles with All subsequent G1 races restricted to that and subsequent foal crops excluding any horses that ever raced on lasix until all effects of using that medication can be objectively determined.

Smart betting decision staying away from BC Friday with three Juvenile races. Saturday won’t be any easier with two Juvenile races. Don’t know how anyone will be able to handicap the reaction of horses going off Lasix. It’s definitely going to mess up pick 6,4,3 sequences.

The ironic point of the win and your in BC Juvie preps is that they allow Lasix. Darley who is not running their Juvies with Lasix sponsored todays BC win and your in Darley Alcibiades that had all but one entrant running with Lasix. They couldn’t have been happy about that.

Stay well my friend, thank goodness you never ran with Lasix. I will try to keep fighting the fight for the horses. Prayers tonight for Paynter.

Probably the only way around the juvenile races in P3s, P4s, etc. is the “All” button--certainly not practical given the highly contentious nature of the BC championships.

Then, again, the “best” horses just might win. Certainly not an ideal situation. Horsemen could have raced their juveniles without Lasix this year ecept for the fact you get the money while you can and you’d make the playing field uneven for your own interests.

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